A horse losing weight and cant gain

[nallassister]

I have a horse that will not gain weight. I am a little nervous with the way she looks. You can see her spine and ribes real well as well has her hip bones. We have tried everything and have taken her to the WSU vet. They gave up on her and just told us to wait and see what happens. It has been a year now. I was hoping someone out there might have the same problem or did. If you have any ideas that would be great.

[LAShawnee]

Often, a horse´s inability to gain weight stems from toxins in the horse´s liver.

There are a variety of products that can be bought for little money to alleviate that problem.  I currently live in Germany, where we mix "Mariendistelkraut" into the feed, together with some corn oil and soaked beet pulp.  I have no idea what that stuff is called in English (and I have absolutely no clue what the German word means), but it does work.  A 10 Kilogramm (22 pounds) bucket costs about 15 Euros in Germany (about 20 US Dollars).  It easily lasts about a month, a time period that cures about every liver problem a horse may have.  Most German feed stores carry the stuff.  "Mariendistelkraut" neutralizes the toxins.  In Germany, often artichokes are mixed into that "Mariendistelkraut" for extra healing power.

[streaker1987]

I have a a20 year old gelding that has started losing weight.  I had his teeth floated and a tooth pulled. I give him senior feed mixed with some red cell but he is still looking pulled down and he is now developing muscle spasms.  Can anyone help me

[lindsp62]

If you have had a vet looked at your horse, done the diagnostics, etc,...that was a good start  I agree...have you had her teeth floated? Is she up on all her vaccines?  Also, I know youa re feeding hay, oats, etc...but HOW MUCH are you feeding?  Have you weighed it out?  The amount of food you feed her in a day should be about 2.5 percent of her body weight (the weight you want her to be). For a 1200 pound horse , that would be about 8.2kg (18.0lbs) of forage per day, and 5.5kg (12.0lbs) of concentrates per day. Good Luck,

[eqstrnathlete]

I tried beet pulp for my horses to no avail.  Turned out they had a fiber deficiency.  I added about 6 lbs a day of pelleted hay for an average 1300 lb horse.  Drastic changes!

[Rock444]

My horse has been lossig weight but eatting well 2 days ago he stoped eattig his grain??????????????????/ Rock

[pleaseme]

I have a mare that just turned 47 on August 8th 2007, I have had this mare a long time but we won't go there, Two days after her birthday, I asked the farrier/ certified Dentist to check her teeth. He was able to pull 3 out by hand. Well ,the one to another and before he was done her pulled 11 teeth. All the molars she had left. I now feed her a senior complete feed and make a slurry with warm water. she is gaining weight and eating like a pig. I almost called the vet to have her put down. She is able to run me over if I get in her way,  Someday I will truly miss this. She is a little stiff but can keep her position within our barn. If the vets have given up, which they do on anything that is about 20 yrs. there is information on the computer. Try many things in moderation if it works you will know within 3 weeks. Also, remember horse graze for variety, try some sweet feed, apple slices, shaved carrots a couple of handfuls in the slurry will appeal to her taste buds.